The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-02-10

sing of White River. A rail broke and
the engine, one baggage car, two passen-
ger coaches and two sleeping cars plunged
over the bridge sixty feet into the river.
Before any one could get to the wreck the
cars had caught fire and were burned.
The bridge also was burned and inside Of
twenty minutes all was destroyed. 1t is
estimated that fifty persons were killed,
A dispatch from White River Junction
dated the 18th, gives graphic description
of some of the horrible scenes, as well as
the escapes that were effected:
THE ENGINEERS STATEMENT.
Charles H. Pierce, OF this place, engineer OF
the wrecked train, is about thirtyeight years
old He has been employed on the road as en-
gineer, for fourteen years, and is considered
one of the company's most faithful employees.
All accounts agree with his statement that, al
though the train was an hour late, and had
been running. perhaps, thirty miles an hour,
yet at the time of the accident, he had slowed
is the usual custom in crossing long bridges.
No blame whatever is attached to him. and
after the accident both he and Fireman
Thresher, of st. Adams. rendered heroic and
efficient aid in rescuing passengers. Mr. Pierce
proceeded to st. Adams wit his engine and
The rest Of the train, after al had been done
Te is now at st. Adams in an exhausted condl-
ton.
At the Junction House is Andrew Wheeler,
about thirty-two years old, with a bad cut over
the eyes, bruised all over and somewhat
burned, but not fatally hurt. He is an en-
ployee of the Derby House, Fitchburg, and was
en- route to Montreal on an excursion. He was
in the first passenger car and thinks there
were about twenty-five Others there. He re-
members nothing after the crash until the fire
came near and help from the outside released
his foot. which had been pinioned under the
wreck, just in time to prevent serious burning.
He has no knowledge as to the circumstan ces
of the wreck, and did not suffer seriously from
the old. Joseph Jacques, of Fitchburg, is at
the same hotel suffering from a broken leg.
One foot was somewhat frozen.
A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. Henry w. Tewksbury. of West Randolph,
VT, the lecturer, states that he was in the first
accident. but was aroused by feeling the car
jumping upon the railroad ties. He had been
in two railroad accidents before this one. and
knew what the sensation portended Realizing
that an accident was about to occur, he jumped
from his seat, with the intention OF making his
escape. The train seemed to come to a stand
still, or go very slowly. He thought it was all
right, and so sat down again. Then, without a
moments warning that anything further was
there came terrible crash. For a moment he
was stunned, and scarcely knew whether he
was dead OF alive. He tried to move, but found
he could mol bulge an inch. He noticed with
great alarm that ire had broken out at the fur
Their end of the car. He struggled with all his
strength to free himself, and screamed for help,
but there was no one at hand to help him. 1t
was time for mental torture. but still he could
not help noticing an old couple who were a few
seats above him. They sought to get out, but
they were hopelessly tied down by heavy seats.
The flames approached the couple with fright
full rapidity, and the aged pair seemed 10 feel
that there was no hope for them. The last he
saw of them they were locked in each others
arms and in the act of kissing. The smoke
and flames now enveloped them, hiding them
frnp VII w himself
up for lost. He seized his fur cape and wound
il around his face SO as to cover the eyes and
hide the dreadful view of approaching death.
At this time the railroad bridge above him was
one mass of fire. and heavy burning tlmbers
We're falling all about him. Having leaned
back rssignedly TO meet what seemed his fear
full fate, his hopes of life were renewed by
hearing voices. He unwound his fur cape and
saw the engineer and fireman close aG hand, He
called to them rantically for assistance, which
they proffered at once. Selling hold of him his
rescuers sought to pull him out but failed.
were about to leave him and help others, but
he begged them to try again, and to break his
leg if necessary. They did so, ard managed to
the effort. The flames were SO close upon MI
TeWksbury that his clothing was burned from
his body. Mr.. Tewksbury lectpred on the .sBat-
tie of Gettysburg" in Windsor, Friday even
ing.
THE MESSENGERS STORY.
Express Messenger A. 8. Robbins, who was
one of the six persons on the train who had
passed over tn6 DrlQSG DGIOT0 tQ0 dCCIQGuG DC
Cured, said: ut is probably one of the worst
accidents that ever took place in the United
States. When we were fairly upon the bridge
we felt shock and heard crash behind.
When we looked out we saw the four rear cars,
piled upon each other, oyer the edge OF the
bridge They pitched oyer 50 fas that It hardly
minutes they were all on fire, with all the peo-
pie in them Oh it was awful! can't talk
thing ever saw or heard Of"
John Shull of New Haven, who with his
friend, Louis P. James. was on the way to at
tend the Montreal carnival, was one OF the pas
sengers in the first of the sleepers which went
down and one of the few who escaped alive; He
When they left White River Junction Shull
was awake. He was in the sixth berth, about
the middle of the Springfield sleeper. The first
ajolting, which he knew meant that the car
was off the track. Then suddenly he felt
the side of the car He knew nothing more
until after he came 10 consciousness, and cried
out for his friend, James, No answer came
He thought he saw window above him, and
he broke the glass, when the snow and water
fell in and nearly drowned him. Montreal
man and young yeaTy son Of Judge ye e z;
the car was on fire. and in a few minutes the
entire wreck and bridge were in flames.
death OF Edward Frank Dillon, Of Springfield
VT. who was student in Dartmouth College,
ana who had more than local reputation as a
baseball pitcher. Dillon and Albion b. Veazy
son of Judge Weary of Rutland, VT, were going
up to the house of the latter in Rutland. Dillon
Was In the class of SO, and VeaZy In that of 80
They took sleeper together in the Boston car.
When the accident happened they were pinned
down with heavy wreckage. They conversed
with each other for some time. Dillon told his
companion thathe was not hurt, but so securely
imprisoned that be could NOT move hand OF
foot. When the ire started 1t burned beam
that lay across Weary, enabling the latter to get
out. People congregated about Dillon, and
tried frantically to release him, but car wheels
and other material lay across his breast.
A LAST MESSAGE TO HIS MOTHER.
He talked nationally to those about him. He
realized that his hour had come, and gave his
college mate a message TO his mother He TOLD
him to tell her how he died; that his last
thoughts were of her and the sorrow his death
would cause her, and that it was his wish that
she should bear up under the trial. The fire ap-
preached nearer and nearer, and the efforts oil
the rescuers were unavaling to save him. Fit
eously he appealed to them to save him, al
though he knew this was impossible. AS the
fire reached him, he gave one last cry apd
| least score of men he was burned to death
| OF this number was DR.. Bray, who had known
Dillon and his family for years. Dillon wal
one of the most popular students in Dartmouth
| He mad engaged to pitch for the Rutlands mex,
summer, and if the Dartmouth team should
| have been admitted to the College League, he
! would have been the first pitcher of the nine.
| A young gentleman from Harvard College, or
| his way to the Montreal Carnival, was a passen
| ger on the Pullman car puritan" He was
awakened by the humping of wheels over the
| ties. The crash came, and the was left il
| berths, but was released by a friend, and the
| two managed to get opt young men, a woman
| and girl. The Harvard man was badly burned
| on the face and becoming exhaused, he wen
| to house near by. He said that the forward
| end of the train was all ablaze when he left
| and that out of twenty five passengers on boart
the puritan /" only ten were saved, A farmer
| living near the scene of the. accident was
awakened by the sharp call for brakes from the
| locomotive ard could distinctly hear the
| humps caused by the wheels over the ties
| The crash came. Hastily dressing himself, hi
made his way to the scene of the wreck Or
approaching the burning cars he stumbled ovel
| the body of woman, who had been dragged
| ing an examination found that she was still
| alive. He hurried back, httched up his team
and conveyed the woman to his home. HI
summoned medical aid, and has the satisfac.
| Atthe junction House last night was A. T
| Dunbar of Boston. WtO came up on the after
| noon train to find his sister, Miss Dunbar, wht
| was in the Pullman car Puritan going to Mon
saw his sister off safely and the first intimatiol
| he had of the accident notice in the Pro
| duce Exchange at Boston. An hour was spen
| In telegraphing to all available points for in
formation, and not getting any he left Boston
| the earliest available train.
MISS DUNBAR's DEATH.
During the long and anxious ride to Whit,
| with him, to agree with him that Miss Dunba
/ could not have been killed, but his hopes fel
! when he learned positively that the Boston ca
J had been burned. When he reached here hi
| dunbar to Dr.. Bray, and was told the place
| where the body would probably be found. Mr.
| Dunbar went there and found the body of hi
| sister. Her face was SO burned as to be pas
necuIiarity about the feet which were not 81
| hadIv burned, he was able to identify her, HI